Montgomery Memorial
{{Short description|Monument to glider flight in Otay, California, U.S.}}
File:Silver Wing Monument, San Diego, California.JPG
The Montgomery Memorial is a monument dedicated on May 21, 1950, to the pioneering aviation achievement of John J. Montgomery and his early glider flights in the 1880s in Otay Mesa, San Diego.{{cite journal |last=Wilson |first=Bob |date=1994 |title=Starting the Montgomery Monument |journal=San Diego Aerospace Museum Newsletter |issue=Spring }} It is situated adjacent to the Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/montgomery.shtml |title=Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center, San Diego, California |access-date=2015-05-01 |archive-date=2013-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505232802/http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/montgomery.shtml |url-status=dead }} The monument features a 93-foot high stainless steel static test wing panel for the Consolidated B-32 Dominator mounted upright that is visible for miles. Because of this feature, it is also sometimes referred to locally as Silver Wing.
History
In 1945, the County of San Diego purchased 7 acres of land to develop a monument to honor John J. Montgomery. By March 1946, this was expanded through the acquisition of 18 adjacent acres for the development of Montgomery Park.{{cite news |author= |title=More Land to Enhance Shaft for Glider Pioneer Approved |newspaper=San Diego Union |location=San Diego, CA |date=March 19, 1946 }} The land acquisition process was led by Paul Mannen and Gordon Wiggins of the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce. Bob Wilson served as research chairman for the project, and he later became a Congressman representing California's 41st District. On April 1, 1946, Regina Cleary, Montgomery's widow visited San Diego to review the location and planned monument.{{cite news |author= |title=Glider Pioneer's Widow to See Memorial Site |newspaper=San Diego Union |location=San Diego, CA |date=April 2, 1946 }}
The monument was designed by pioneering modernist Lloyd Ruocco.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sohosandiego.org/reflections/2005-2/ruocco.htm|title=Lloyd Ruocco, San Diego's Invisible Modernist}} Around the monument base is a terrazzo walk with the names of aviators who followed Montgomery set into the stone. Set nearby is a tablet with an inscription to Montgomery's winged flight.{{cite news |author= |title=Kin of Montgomery Due in S.D. Today |newspaper=San Diego Union |location=San Diego, CA |date=May 19, 1950 }}
The Montgomery Memorial was, officially dedicated on Sunday May 21, 1950, with John Montgomery's brother James Montgomery, and sister Jane Montgomery in attendance. Robert Wilson was the Chairman of the Montgomery Memorial Committee, with William Brotherton{{cite web| url = http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/utsandiego/obituary.aspx?n=william-p-brotherton&pid=117788499| title = William Brotherton Obituary (2008) - San Diego, CA - SanDiegoUnionTribune.com| website = Legacy.com}} serving as Master of Ceremonies. Jerome Rudrauff presented the Memorial as President of the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce. It was formally accepted by James A. Robbins, Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.Program from the Dedication of the Montgomery Memorial, Montgomery Park, Otay, California, Sunday May 21, 1950, San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce.[http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/local/montgomery.html #711: Montgomery Memorial, Otay Mesa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124230210/http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/local/montgomery.html |date=2005-11-24 }}(32.577449 -117.052631)"First Glider Tower Takes Initial Flight," San Diego Union May 21, 1950.{{cite book |last1=Harwood |first1=Craig |last2=Fogel |first2=Gary |title=Quest for Flight: John J. Montgomery and the Dawn of Aviation in the West |year=2012 |publisher=University of Oklahoma Press |location=Norman, Oklahoma |isbn=978-0806142647 }}
The Montgomery Memorial is recognized as a California Historical Landmark (#711).{{Cite web|url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21478|title = San Diego}}
It is also a Historic Landmark designated by the San Diego Historical Resources Board (#13).http://www.sandiego.gov/planning/programs/historical/pdf/landmarklist.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}
The Montgomery Park land originally acquired by the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce became the Montgomery-Waller Recreational Center
in 1964 following the donation of another parcel of land next to the site by the family of Luckie Waller for a park named after her son.
{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/montgomery.shtml|title=Montgomery-Waller Recreation Center | Parks & Recreation | City of San Diego Official Website}} In the 1970s, an early hang glider "Montgomery Meet" was held on the hill near the Monument.
In the 1970s another nearby recreation center was dedicated in the area as the Silver Wing Recreation Center.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/recctr/silverwing.shtml|title=Silver Wing Recreation Center | Parks & Recreation | City of San Diego Official Website}}
See also
References
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Category:Landmarks in San Diego
Category:California Historical Landmarks
Category:Buildings and structures in San Diego County, California